Major drugs prosecution in Cork in danger of being struck out due to forensics delays

Midleton District Court heard that forensic evidence required for the prosecutions in relation to a major drugs haul in August 2024 was still awaited by the State. File picture: Dan Linehan

A major ongoing drug prosecution could be struck out from court proceedings due to long delays in evidence being furnished by Forensic Science Ireland, the district court has heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told Midleton District Court that forensic evidence required for the prosecutions in relation to a major drugs haul in August 2024 was still awaited by the State.

Three individuals, Michael Ryan, aged 55, Ellen Looney, aged 43 and Jake Ryan, aged 20, all of An Faill, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork were charged last year in connection with €260,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis seized at a house they were all residing at.

The three were all charged in August 2024 with two counts of possession of illegal drugs and two counts of possession of illegal drugs for sale or supply in relation to €140,000 worth of cannabis and €120,000 worth of cocaine recovered from the property in Carrigtwohill following a search by gardaí from the Cork County Divisional Drugs Unit.

Judge Colm Roberts said the prosecution was taking an inordinate amount of time and he would only adjourn the matter once more. Judge Roberts adjourned the matter to January 16, 2026, for instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The judge marked the matter peremptory against the State meaning that if the prosecution evidence was still not ready the case would be struck out.

Judge Roberts also agreed to vary the bail conditions of one of the accused, Jake Ryan, lifting a curfew to enable him to take up new employment. The judge said bail conditions were only meant to be a short-term measure and not intended to go “on and on and on.”

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Service